Ex-Ofcom staffer tried to leak TV company data to major broadcaster

The UK's communications watchdog Ofcom has suffered a serious data breach, after an erstwhile worker attempted, but failed, to leak highly sensitive information on TV firms to his new employer—an unnamed, "major broadcaster."

“On 26 February we became aware of an incident involving the misuse of third-party data by a former Ofcom employee," the regulator said in an e-mailed statement. "This was a breach of the former employee’s statutory duty under the Communications Act and a breach of the contract with Ofcom."

Ars understands that the breach did not extend to personal data. According to the Guardian—which broke the story on Thursday—Ofcom fired off missives about the data breach to TV companies that hold the regulator's licence.

Apparently, the unnamed ex-staff member pilfered as much as six years worth of data that the watchdog had received from TV broadcasters, before offering the info to his new employer, which, we're told, rejected it, and tipped off Ofcom about the breach.

The watchdog added: “Ofcom takes the protection of data extremely seriously, and we are very disappointed that a former employee has chosen to act in this manner. The extent of the disclosure was limited and has been contained, and we have taken urgent steps to inform all parties.”